Next story:

Gronkowski: No push from Patriots to return

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has yet to play this season and still isn’t sure when he’ll be on the field, but he emphasized this week that there’s no pressure from the team to hurry back.

Gronkowski has been practicing on a limited bases as he recovers from forearm and back injuries.

“We were on the same page from the get-to and we’re still on the same page,” Gronkowski told reporters, denying there was a disconnect with the team. “It’s going good. I’m progressing every week. I’m feeling better every week, getting stronger every week, getting in better condition every week. So I’m still sticking to the motto day by day.”

Gronkowski is slowly acclimating himself to being on the practice field again.

“Being out of football, the first couple of days out there, I can’t lie, it was like, ‘Whoa, I feel like a rookie real quick,’ because the speed was so quick,” he said. “But I’m catching up. Everything is going good and everyone is doing fine. It’s just a normal week, working hard and getting better.”

The Patriots appear to be proceeding cautiously with Gronkowski since he returned from fracturing the forearm near the end of last season and then hurt it again.

Gronkowski remains questionable on the Patriots’ injury report this week. New England (4-0) plays at Cincinnati (2-2) on Sunday.

“When I’m ready, I’m ready,” Gronkowski said. “If it’s this Sunday, next Sunday, the Sunday after that, it’s just going day by day. So I really couldn’t tell you when it’s going to be.”